Toothbrush and dental-floss dispenser

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush is provided having a handle constructed for the storage therein and dispensing therefrom of dental floss.

5 United States Patent McCord Dec. 10, 1974 [5 TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTAL-FLOSS 2,233,936 3/1941 7 Campbell 132/92 A DISPENSER 2,468,732 5/1949 Boulicault 132/84 B [75] Inventor: Robert C. McCord, Florence, Mass.

Prima ExaminerG. E. McNeill 73 A 1 v t c 1 ,c1 1 d, sslgnee g orpora eve an Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohn F. Jones; Sherman J.

Kemmer [22] Filed: Oct. 13, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 297,211

, [57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl 132/92 A 51 Int. Cl. A61c 15/00 A toothbrush provlded havmg a handle constructed [58] Field of Search 132/84 R, 84 AB, 90, 91, for the Storage therein and dispensing therefrom of 32 9 R 92 A dental floss.

[56] References Cited 1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS Priest 132/84 A PAIENIE DEC 1 01974 sum 2 or 2 The present invention relates to a combined toothbrush and dental-floss dispenser and more particularly pertains to a toothbrush having a dental-floss dispenser in the handle thereof.

This invention relates to attachments for toothbrushes and provides a novel, convenient, simple, efficient and practical device within the handle of a toothbrush for storing and dispensing dental floss, said device being soconstructed and located as to be conveniently available but not to interfere with normal use of the toothbrush as such. I

An important object of this invention is to provide a toothbrush with a handle constructed for the convenient storage therein and dispensing therefrom of dental-floss material.

Another object is the provision of a toothbrush handle so constructed as to contain in a convenient manner and location a novel dental-floss dispenser.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The article of this invention can best be described by referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toothbrush-dentalfloss dispenser partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the toothbrush-dentalfloss dispenser also partly in section showing the end cap cover open in phantom.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view similar to FIG. 5 showing the novel dispenser in operation.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view with parts in section of the end cap and floss cutter.

FIG. 9 is an end elevation taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end elevation taken on line 1010 of FIG. 8.

The device embodied in this invention comprises a toothbrush handle 1 equipped at one end thereof with several longitudinally spaced rows of tufts of suitable toothbrush bristles 2, as is the common practice in toothbrush manufacture, and at the opposite end thereof with a threaded, rotatably'demountable end cap 3 having a hinged cover 4. The interior of the.

toothbrush handle 1 in the vicinity of the end cap 3 is hollow and adapted to receive a dental-floss roller 5 when said dental-floss roller containing dental floss 6 is placed in the toothbrush handle 1, the dental-floss roller 5 being rotatably restrained within the toothbrush handle 1 when the endcap is in place. Also mounted at the end of the toothbrush handle 1 which is adapted to receive the dental-floss roller 5 and end cap 3 is mounted a floss cutter 7 which is equipped with an open slot 8 to receive the dental floss before it is cut and mounting legs 9 for attaching the floss cutter 7 to the portion of the end cap 3 inside the end cap cover 4. The floss cutter. 7 is mounted in such a way as to be contained in or exposed by the end cap 3 depending upon whether the end cap is in an open (FIG. 7) or closed (FIG. 3) position.

I claim:

1. In a toothbrush comprising a handle equipped at one end with longitudinally spaced rows of tufts of suitable bristles and at the hollow opposite end with a dental-floss dispenser comprising a roll of dental floss mounted inside the handle and a cutter equipped with an open slot to receive the dental floss before it is cut, said cutter being located at the very end of the handle, the improvement comprising a rotatably mounted end cap adapted to surround the cutter, said end cap being equipped with a hinged cover which can be opened or closed in a locking position to expose or conceal and protect the dental-floss cutter. 

1. In a toothbrush comprising a handle equipped at one end with longitudinally spaced rows of tufts of suitable bristles and at the hollow opposite end with a dental-floss dispenser comprising a roll of dental floss mounted inside the handle and a cutter equipped with an open slot to receive the dental floss before it is cut, said cutter being located at the very end of the handle, the improvement comprising a rotatably mounted end cap adapted to surround the cutter, said end cap being equipped with a hinged cover which can be opened or closed in a locking position to expose or conceal and protect the dental-floss cutter. 